Customer Reviews

The Christmas Guest: Stories and Songs of Christmas

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Andy's sincerity and strength of character come through in the words and music so strongly that you'd swear you're sitting in the living room listening to him tell these stories and sing these songs just for you. It's really wonderful. My eyes well up with happy tears everytime I listen to his artful telling of The Juggler, The Christmas Guest and Belleau Wood. From the selection of the songs and stories, to their telling, it's clear Andy is a spiritual, gentle soul with real compassion for his fellow man. I love each and every song and story and would be hard pressed to pick a favorite among them. If you want to find the spirit of Christmas and goodness again, listen to this album. I'm so glad that Andy got together with Marty Stuart (producer) and Billy Ray Hearn (Exec Producer) to create this wonderful and deeply touching collection of songs and stories. (Thank heaven's Marty made a case for Andy to be able to do the Juggler on this album!!) If you're like me, you won't put it away when Christmas is over, you'll keep on playing it and picking up something new every time you hear it. It will be a CD I keep playing year after year for certain. Now I need to search for more of Andy's other recordings.

Andy Griffith not only sings songs on this CD, but tells a few stories, all with a Christmas theme. The stories are told in a very engaging, expressive way, even though Andy doesn't sound exactly the same as he did in the late 50s and 60s telling his country stories, but that's to be expected. This CD is very well put together, with a nice booklet and pictures. He sings all selections on this album very well, very similar to the "I Love to Tell the Story" and "Just As I Am" albums a few years before. I also like this CD because it has a Christmas theme, which Andy Griffith hasn't done before.

In this wonderful CD, acting legend and singer Andy Griffith (b.1926) sings a selection of great spiritual Christmas songs, some old and some new (well, at least I don't recognize them). Few know that Mr. Griffith's first career choice had been to be an opera singer, and that he graduated from the University of North Carolina with a degree in music. Deeply religious, he had originally enrolled as a pre-divinity student, and though he switched over to drama, he never completely lost that first love.

This CD contains twelve great Christmas songs, sung in Mr. Griffith's distinctive voice. The Christmas Guest is terribly moving, sure to bring a lump to your throat, while Barnaby The Juggler will give you great food for thought. I love all of the tracks on this great CD, and find that they get better with each listening! I love this CD and can't recommend it enough. Get this CD for Christmas - get it for the entire year!

It took for ever to find the album but afte 4 month's I did receive the email that the product was available. well I love it It is sooooooooooooo much like the way Jesus would tell it thanks to all wou made it possible' it will be christmas tradition! Bill Knibbe

Listening to this CD is like taking a nostalgic visit back to Mayberry. Andy Griffith's distinctive speaking voice and charm-filled accent are just as expressive now as they were when he appeared in that series almost forty years ago. Yes, the voice is older, but it still has the dignity, gentleness and honesty that have made Griffith such an engaging performer for decades.

The arrangements are simple, but effective, just the right amount of instrumental and vocal support to enhance Griffith's performance. From the spirited "Go Tell it on the Mountain" to the reflective "Oh Come of come Emanuel" Griffith is in fine voice. True, he occasionally has a slight rasp in his voice that interrupts his smooth delivery, but credit his honesty and that of his producers for leaving in a few imperfections, which, in fact, add to the charm of his performance.

In general, his voice is engaging and his precise rhythm and pitch are commendable. Only occasionally does his vibrato get the better of him. But those are technical things. What is wonderful and most important about this performance is its emotional impact, which is enormous, both in the singing and the spoken sections.

My favorite moment is "The Christmas Guest," an honest and straight forward reading of a lovely, sentimental story.

This CD is definitely a keeper to enjoy year after year.